Last day of June

Wowsers - it is June 30th! That means next month is almost upon us, the one that has been looming since mid-November. Birth month. Well, not MY birth month obviously, but the birth month of the next most important person in my life: the yet to be named because we don't know the gender baby. There are so many emotions running through me right now (along with a cup of coffee because an early morning airport run has disrupted my sleep schedule a bit :) that I just don't know where to start. I'm scared, anxious, excited, and curious about how it will all shake down.
A wrinkle in the plan is that baby does not want to flip down - he/she is still firmly lodged near my ribs. We thought last night, after some moxibustion and an inversion, that there may have been some flippage - actually I could swear that the bum was near my ribs and head was near my belly button, but that seems to have reversed after a night of sleep. It's just getting tighter in that space, which makes it harder to walk around, breathe at times, and leaves my whole belly quite sore after the moxibustion acrobatics. My belly just rumbles after we burn that stuff sometimes and it's getting a little jarring at times because last night he/she got some good kidney shots in there I'm convinced.
Sooo, with this non-baby flipping into "position", I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility of a c-section, which would happen in two weeks. Yikes indeed. That totally wasn't what I was looking toward, but I know that the most important thing is that baby gets out safe and sound. Still, all my prep has been for a natural childbirth, so this places a tiny wrench in the plans (not like Frank Wrench). Plus, surgery scares me, plain and simple. I've never had it before and hospitals creep me out anyways; I get all lightheaded and shaky. Of course, it can all change in a moment and there is positivity out there, but after three weeks of trying to do the big flip, I'm feeling a bit discouraged. Yes, there are other methods I can try (the ECV, chiropractor, etc), but I feel confident that we have tried a ton with acupuncture, moxibustion, inversion positions, talking, music, ice packs and the lot. It gets to the point of what WILL work? Or begs the question: is there a reason this baby doesn't want to flip? I hope that we can get some more answers at the doctor's office this week.
On a totally random note, I made a kick-ass lemon yogurt cake yesterday with raspberries from the backyard. Light, made with healthier ingredients, and just so fresh and summery. I took pictures, however, the computer does not want to read the pictures from my camera. To which I say to the computer, fine, I didn't want to put my pictures on you anyways (I really didn't....I just need to find the software and reinstall I think, but my brain is not IT oriented, and that sounds pretty awful). However, if I want to continue this blog when baby's born to show pics, I will need to swallow my pride and try again. But, if we are not successful, I am SO not talking to the computer for a week.
Summer is in full swing and I am enjoying being off from work. Although it has been hard to try to fill my day with low-key activities. I think I have found some ways to deal with my need to be doing something with my need to rest: the 20 minute cat nap. I'm pretty sure I took three of those yesterday...it's just that I am the type of person who likes to be accomplished and doesn't need time to sit around with time to think and be idle. Sounds crazy huh? I KNOW it sounds crazy to Jason, but that's my personality. I'm adapting to not being able to walk Lola by letting her outside and throwing the ball. And I don't go balls-out cleaning; I do a little at a time. And I surround myself with books and make at least one outing a day. Kinda sounds like a schedule I will most likely keep with the baby.....
Well, good thoughts out there for a flipping baby, or just good thoughts for whatever decides to happen and that the possibilities and free time don't drive me insane ;).

sun-ny day.....

(photo courtesy of photojq - :)

As I sit here on a rainy Tuesday morning, staring down four more days of the work week, all of them seem to be filled with rain but the hope of "sun breaks" but not many, I look at this picture and yearn for the sunny two days we spent in San Francisco a few weeks ago. I was 28 weeks pregnant in that shot (I'm almost 31 weeks now) and was just so happy to be in the sun in one of my favorite places. The serenity of the Palace of Fine Arts, it's proximity to the golden gate bridge, the area surrounding it, and just the general feel of San Fran: it all makes me happy and love to visit that dynamic city. Although I think the sun had a HUGE part in my happiness that weekend; the grey weather really is affecting me this year, maybe because of the pregnancy, who knows. But I miss the sun; it goes away far too quickly for me to fully enjoy.

Five weeks of school left, 9 weeks (officially - in reality, who knows) left of pregnancy, and then...the unknown. I have to say, I am getting really excited to meet this little person. Had a good doctor's appointment yesterday: heard the heartbeat, measuring right on track, on the low end of weight gain (not low enough to have to eat more, but low enough to keep an eye out - doc said she's more concerned with how I'm measuring than numbers of weight gain). Everything looks good which is good. So much is happening on the inside though that's it's hard to make a connection on the outside - I want to know who this person is, how she/he is growing, and really, just what is going on in there when I feel rapid kicking and then nothing. Then more movement. Last night I think baby stretched all his/her limbs out, creating a diagonal belly for me. Weird. Most of all, I want to get this party started, but I do know that I have awhile and should enjoy this time, but still. Babies are way more interesting than planning for school and listening to teenagers.

Ahh, but I persevere, hoping to get through the day in one piece, no tears, and be ready for my pedicure this afternoon. I figured I needed a little pampering this week with a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment, and two baby showers in the 7 day forecast. Too-da-loo!

Monday Monday

Usually Mondays kick my ass, but today seems to be starting out not too shabby. I could be jinxing myself right now, but school seems manageable (even if I do have a mountain of grading to accomplish, but eh - I have all week!) and I got lots of rest this weekend. It's so hard for me to rest because I have a million items that I want to accomplish on my school to-do list, my house to-do list, my baby to-do list, but it's so nice to allow myself time to rest, read, and clear my head. Last week was a doozy at school/work, so I'm hoping for a nice quiet week all around.

However, lots of happenings in baby world coming up: a doctor's appointment today (31 weeks! We're in single digits until the impending arrival!), and two baby showers within the week. One on Friday at school for all the expecting folks and one on Sunday with family and friends. Overall I feel okay, just innundated with heartburn and sleepy at times. Also, I get ravenously hungry, then not hungry at all. I think I need to add more protein into my diet, but all I want is the sweet stuff both bad stuff and fruit and orange juice. Hmmm.

Starting to get antsy thinking about the birth and how all that will go - we have a plan that I still need to finalize, but it's such an unknown that I don't really know what to think. And I suppose the planning of the "stuff" that goes into baby's room, but I have to confess, I'm not big into stuff. Part of me feels like we need to meet the little friend to see what his/her needs are before we go crazy with the buying. I'm sure after this weekend, I'll see what shape we'll be in after a baby shower. Not that I'm planning on receiving a boatload of gifts, but I know that generous people will be in force this weekend :). And I'm grateful of course....a bit nervous about all the mingling and attention, but it should work out okay.

Alrighty, should get back to some paper grading. Have a fabulous Monday all (if anyone is out there reading this...I should really tell people I've started writing again :). <3, m

I guess I still have a blog....

Hmmm. Still have a blog out there in cyber-land. Is it even called that anymore? Sigh - I am super old school I suppose :).
Still baking/made a yummy quiche last night and I'm scheduled to make a chocolate strawberry dream pie tonight. Lots of recipes still to try, but lots that I have tried but not documented like: chipotle brownies, dutch apple pie, a few vegan cupcakes from my cookbook Vegan Cupcakes Take over the World, among others. I can't even remember, but I'm sure my esteemed husband can. Perhaps I will get back into this blogging thing, especially with the impending arrival of a new Quigley to the bunch (look out for him/her around July 22nd!). Or maybe I'll just have a blog all about my many cravings (don't get me started.....all food just sounds yummy. don't worry - I refrain most of the time :).
Anyways, I'll change up the layout soon and maybe even link twitter, change the picture, etc. Just need to figure out HOW to do all that. For now, enjoy your Tuesday and perhaps like me, you will whimsically look forward to the sunny weather forecasted for this weekend. And a break all next week from the work! Except I have too many projects planned, so I may need help making myself relax.